Orphaned elephant and rescuer to star on Australian Story

Hayden Johnson
Journalist
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A HERVEY Bay woman will feature on Australian Story for her efforts in saving the orphaned Sumatran elephant Bona.

Amanda French was part of a trio of former Australia Zoo workers who travelled to Sumatra to save the elephant, who was severely malnourished.

"When we first met her 12 months ago, she was alone and nobody knew her story," she said.

"To think that she has become a household name just 12 months on is something we only dreamed we'd be able to do for her."

Bona has now been nursed back to health thanks to the group.

Australia Zoo founder and conservationist Bob Irwin said his son Steve's work was continuing thanks to the passionate work of Amanda and her friends.

"Steve's legacy still lives on and I just feel so proud of the fact that all those years and all that work that he did is still going on many years now since his passing," Mr Irwin said.

"I actually started to get a little bit emotional watching that video, not just because it was Steve but because he knew that he may have been the last person to show that baby elephant any type of love whatsoever."